Mailer for biological samples

ABSTRACT

A sample-receiving inner tube is threaded into an inner cap provided in the base of an outer tube of a mailer for biological samples and the like. Another cap is screwed over the mouth of this outer tube, with this latter cap being provided with a seat for the closed end of the inner tube. An addressed and stamped (postage previously applied) sealing strip with a longitudinal perforation is applied over the joint line between the outer tube and its cap with the perforations in line with this joint line. The outer cap is stepped so that the sealing strip does not project above its surface and to form a shoulder spaced from the junction or parting line by the width of a portion of the tape as measured to the perforations to ensure proper positioning of the strip.

[ 1 June 25, 1974 ,164 6/1970 Andelin et a1. 220/17 X 1 MAILER FORBIOLOGICAL SAMPLES Inventor: Herbert Runte, Hannover, Germany [73]Assignee: Aug. Harre & Co.,

Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Assistant ExaminerStephen MarcusAttorney, Agent, or Firm-l(ar1 F. Ross; Herbert Dubno l-lannover-Linden,Germany Mar. 9, 1972 [22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT A sample-receiving inner tube is threaded into an [21]Appl. No.: 233,164

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 12, 1971 inner cap providedin the base of an outer tube of a mailer for biological samples and thelike. Another Germany................-.......;.... 7109321 cap isscrewed over the mouth of this outer tube, with [52] US. 220/17, 220/8,220/53, this latter cap being provided with a Seat for the closed end ofthe inner tube An addressed and stamped (postage previously applied)sealing strip 55 w ,2 M8 9 3 5 $7 B .0 2 m2 mh c .r a e S m 1 mm te hFUN 55 with a longitudinal perforation is applied over the joint 229/93;215/95 6 line between the outer tube and its cap with the perfo-References Cited rations in line w1th this oint line. The outer cap isUNITED STATES PATENTS stepped so that the sealing strip does not projectabove its surface and to form a shoulder spaced from the junction orparting line by the width of a portion of the tape as measured to theperforations to ensure proper positioning of the strip.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Bozek 525751 AS x PAIENIEBJ ii .HARD RUBBERIIIIIII i FIG.

MAILER FOR BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to a hermetically sealable package which may be sentthrough the mail. More particularly this invention concerns a mailablevial which is suitable for sending bacteria-sensitive materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is often necessary to send a hermeticallysealed container through the mail. To this end it is important that thecontainer or mailer, which may be a vial, a centrifuge tube, or thelike, remain tightly sealed in order to prevent the entry of anybacteria into it or even to prevent the escape of'any of its contents.Such a package is often used by doctors to mail samples requiringlaboratory investigation to a laboratory, for patients to transmit fluidor solid specimens of body waste or sputum to a doctor or fortransmission of specimens between laboratories.

The customary method has been to screw the cap on the vial, and thenplace it in a pouch bearing the neces sary stamps and address label. Inspite of the fact that such vials are not intended to be reused,disposal is never assured. In general such packages have not met withsuccess acceptance.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects areattained according to the present invention in a mailable packagecomprising a pair of coaxial tubes, one within the other. The inner tubeis open at one end and screwed into a seat formed in the base of theouter tube. This outer tube is sealed by 'a cap screwed over it andformed with a seat for the closed end of the inner tube. A paper stripformed with a central weakened region, advantageously a perforationline, is bonded to the outer tube and to the cap with the perforationsoverlying the joint line between cap and outer tube. This strip isadvantageously made of paper and is provided with the necessary addressand postage (via a postage meter) prior to gluing over the closedcontainer. A water-insoluble glue, such as chrome glue or DeKhotinskycement, is used to prevent reuse of the container by permanently bondingthe sealing strip to the package. The cement is of such nature as toprevent pulling the strip from the package without a trace and therebyallowing reuse.

According to another feature of the invention the cap has a lipthreadedly engaging the outer tube. Both tubes and the cap are basicallycylindrical and coaxial with the cap having a small-diameter portionadjacent its rim. This small-diameter portion is of the same diameter asthe outer tube and is smaller than the remainder of the cap by a radialdistance equal to the thickness of the sealing strip. Thus the caphas ashoulder against which an edge of the strip can be seated forpositioning the perforations at the parting line.

Such a tube is extremely rugged and can be quickly and easily preparedfor mailing. The user need merely apply the self-addressedlabel/sealing-strip and postage frank and drop the package in the mail.If the package has been opened in transit, this will be immediatelyvisible on receipt since the perforations will be ruptured. Such apackage can be distributed to the public. for example. for tuberculosissputum tests with preaddressed and postage paid sealing strips that onlyneed the return address of the sender.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other objects, features, andadvantages will become more readily apparent from the followingdescription, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. Us a longitudinal section through a tube according to the presentinvention;

FIG. '2 is a top view of a mailing-label/sealing strip usable on thetube shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line III-lll of FIG. 1.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION The package shown in FIGS. 13 comprises an aluminuminner tube 3 of cylindrical shape with a diameter d and with a roundclosed end 3a and a threaded end 3b. This tube 3 may be a conventionalcentrifuge tube. An aluminum outer tube 1 of a diameter D equal toslightly less than 20' is coaxial with and surrounds'the tube 3. Thisouter tube has a closed end la formed with a circular recess lb on theinside of which is provided a hard-rubber internally threaded cap 4. Theend 1b of the tube 3 is screwed into the cap 4 which itself is formedwith a central nipple 40 adapted to receive a probe or the like. Thiscap 4 is vulcanized to the interior of the tube 1 and forms a seat thatmakes an airtight seal with the tube 3.

The tube 1 has a threaded open end 1c which is formed as a threaded neckhaving a diameter D equal to around l.'5d. This end 10 is threaded intoa hardrubber cap 2 formed with a pair of coaxial cylindrical projections2a and 2b. The inner projection 2a snugly receives the closed end 3a ofthe tube 3 to cushion and hold this tube securely. The projection 2b isinternally threaded to receive the threaded end 1c of the tube 1, and isformed on its outside with a step 20 subdividing it into a cylindricalregion 10 having a diameter equal to diameter D and a region of slightlygreater diameter D. This cap 2 can serve as a stand for the tube 3 whenthe tube 1 is unscrewed and removed. Step 2c forms an abutment for onelongitudinal edge, positioning the perforations at the separation line.

A sealing-strip/address label 5 is provided which is made of paper andcoated with an adhesive 11 that joins with a similar adhesive coating onthe reduced diameter region of projection 2b and on the portion of tube1 immediately adjacent the threaded neck 1c. This rectangular strip ofpaper is provided with a longitudinally weakened region in the form ofperforations 6 that line up with the rim 9 of the collar 10 when thetape 5 is applied to the closed package with one of its longitudinaledges lying along the shoulder 2c. This label 5 is provided with a pairof boxes 8 and 8 for the senders and receivers addresses, respectively,and with a printed-postage or franked region 7. The strip 5 may also beprepared by an automatic postage meter and addressing machine. The label5 may be so provided by the distributor. Since the difference betweendiameters D and D" is equal to twice the thickness t of the label 5,this label will lie flush with the cap 2 to make a very neat package Theuser need merely deposit the required sample in the inner tube 3, thenscrew this tube 3 into the cap 4, then screw the tube 1 into the cap 2and apply the label 5. The package so made may be simply dropped in themail without the need of placing it in a mailing pouch.

I claim:

1. A mailer comprising:

a tube having an open end;

a cap threadable over said end and defining a joint line with said tube;

a strip adhesively secured to said tube and said cap around said jointline and provided with a region of reduced strength juxtaposed with saidline, said strip being provided with address and postage;

a second tube coaxially received within said firstmentioned tube andhaving an open end and a closed end, both of said tubes beingcylindrical; and

a second cap provided within said first tube and threadedly receivingsaid open end of said second tube, said first-mentioned cap being formedwith a pair of cylindrical coaxial projections, one of said projectionsthreadedly receiving said open end of said first tube and the other ofsaid projections snugly receiving the closed end of said second tube.

2. The package defined in claim 1 wherein said strip is permanentlybonded to said tube and tosaid cap.

3. The package defined in claim 2 whereinsaid cap is generallycylindrical and formed with a shoulder de fining a region of reduceddiameter adjacent said joint line and a region of greater diameter.

4. The package defined in claim 3 wherein said weakened region isperforated.

5. A mailer comprising:

a tube having an open end;

a cap threadable over said end and defining a joint line with said tube;

a strip adhesively secured to said tube and said cap around said jointline and provided with a region of reduced strength juxtaposed with saidline. said strip being provided with address and postage;

a second tube coaxially received within said firstmentioned tube andhaving an open end and a closed end, both of said tubes beingcylindrical; and

a second cap provided within said first tube and threadedly receivingsaid open end of said second tube, said first-mentioned cap being formedwith a pair of cylindrical coaxial projections, one of said projectionsthreadedly receiving said open end of said first tube and the other ofsaid projections snugly receiving the closed end of said second tube,said one projection being formed with a shoulder subdividing it axiallyinto a portion of reduced diameter adjacent said joint line and coveredby said strip and a region of greater diameter, the difference betweensaid diameters being substantially equal to twice the thickness of saidstrip.

1. A mailer comprising: a tube having an open end; a cap threadable oversaid end and defining a joint line with said tube; a strip adhesivelysecured to said tube and said cap around said joint line and providedwith a region of reduced strength juxtaposed with said line, said stripbeing provided with address and postage; a second tube coaxiallyreceived within said first-mentioned tube and having an open end and aclosed end, both of said tubes being cylindrical; and a second capprovided within said first tube and threadedly receiving said open endof said second tube, said firstmentioned cap being formed with a pair ofcylindrical coaxial projections, one of said projections threadedlyreceiving said open end of said first tube and the other of saidprojections snugly receiving the closed end of said second tube.
 2. Thepackage defined in claim 1 wherein said strip is permanently bonded tosaid tube and to said cap.
 3. The package defined in claim 2 whereinsaid cap is generally cylindrical and formed with a shoulder defining aregion of reduced diameter adjacent said joint line and a region ofgreater diameter.
 4. The package defined in claim 3 wherein saidweakened region is perforated.
 5. A mailer comprising: a tube having anopen end; a cap threadable over said end and defining a joint line withsaid tube; a strip adhesively secured to said tube and said cap aroundsaid joint line and provided with a region of reduced strengthjuxtaposed with said line, said strip being provided with address andpostage; a second tube coaxially received within said first-mentionedtube and having an open end and a closed end, both of said tubes beingcylindrical; and a second cap provided within said first tube andthreadedly receiving said open end of said second tube, saidfirst-mentioned cap being formed with a pair of cylindrical coaxialprojections, one of said projections threadedly receiving said open endof said first tube and the other of said projections snugly receivingthe closed end of said second tube, said one projection being formedwith a shoulder subdividing it axially into a portion of reduceddiameter adjacent said joint line and covered by said strip and a regionof greater diameter, the difference between said diameters beingsubstantially equal to twice the thickness of said strip.